7 June 2007 Edition

Ógra Shinn Féin meets Sri Lankan delegation

Ógra Shinn Féin meets Sri Lankan delegationIn the past week, Ógra Shinn Féin has engaged in discussions with a delegation from the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.The delegation included a son of the Sri Lankan President, Namal Rajapakse, who is head of Tharunyata Hetak (A Better Tomorrow for Youth); Harinda R. Vidanage, a special international advisor to the President, and Indika Perera of INPACT (Initiative for Political and Conflict Transformation).The delegation requested a meeting with Ógra Shinn Féin as part of a series of meetings they were holding in Ireland. This included a meeting with Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, who himself has travelled to Sri Lanka on a number of occasions to witness the peace process there.After the delegation provided a background analysis to the Sri Lankan conflict, the meeting proceeded largely with discussions surrounding conflict resolution, and particularly youth involvement.National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin Barry McColgan said:“Both delegations were happy to meet each other in the interests of conflict resolution and discussion.“Ógra has future plans to meet all sides in the Sri Lankan conflict and plans to witness the situation there first hand.”